By Udbhav Bhargava

The News 

Winter diesel may soon be used by the Indians armed forces for operations in high altitude areas such as Ladakh. The Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL) has sought the permission of the armed forces’ Directorate-General for Quality Assurance (DGQA) to allow winter diesel use for military vehicles.

What happens to fuel in Low temperatures? 

Standard diesel fuel contains paraffin wax which is used to improve viscosity and lubrication. The paraffin wax gets thicker or “gels” at low temperatures, which impedes the fuel flow in the car engine. Gel point is the temperature at which solid diesel fuel melts and cannot flow by gravity or be pumped into fuel lines any more. This phenomenon happens when a fuel reaches a temperature that is low enough that ample wax crystals have formed to prevent any movement in the oil.

For diesel this is usually around −8 °C and for petrol this is at -68 °C. Use of kerosene to dilute diesel to make it functional can seem like an improvisation that can help but it will cause more air pollution and harm to modern diesel engines, contrary to common opinion. If improvised, then fuel tank preheating can be fatally risky. A rational alternative may be to apply anti-gel additives to diesel or biodiesel where the temperature is supposed to cool. They serve to reduce the formation of wax crystals in the fuel, thereby reducing the fuel’s pour point and gel point.

The armed forces in these areas are fuelled by winter-grade diesel in cold deserts, like Ladakh. IOCL and other oil marketing firms are supplying armed forces with Diesel High Sulphur Pour Point (DHPP -W) for operations in those areas which also have a -30 ° C pour point.

What is Winter Diesel?

The winter-grade diesel produced by IOC has a low pouring point (the temperature below which the liquid loses its flow characteristics) of -33 ° Celsius, enabling it to withstand the harsh winter weather conditions in Ladakh. It also follows the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) BS-VI Grade specification. The winter-grade diesel is provided by the Indian Oil Corporation Limited Panipat Refinery. The special winter-grade diesel would help the the challenges for transport and mobility faced by local citizens during the harsh winter months.

By Udbhav Bhargava

Germany’s parliament was preparing to pass new legislation finalizing the phase-out of coal as an energy source. Both houses of parliament were to vote on the roadmap that envisions the phase-out of coal between now and 2038. Germany is the first industrialized country that leaves behind both nuclear energy and coal energy.   

The environmental pressure groups do deserve some credit for the change. Greenpeace and other environmental organizations have protested vociferously against the proposal, including by lowering a banner down the Reichstag building door. We claim that the road map of the government does not curb greenhouse gas emissions from Germany quickly enough to achieve the goals set out in the Paris Climate Agreement.

Carbon Emissions and Nuclear Energy – hindrances 

However, Germany has demonstrated low results in relation to more recent European targets for rising carbon emissions. In Germany, the growing share of RES has not been enough to cut carbon emissions.

The share of RES has not been effective to eliminate pollution in Germany due to a decrease in nuclear power alone and the continuous maintenance of high coal-fired electricity products. Another reason is, nearly forty years after the start of the German energy transition, Germany remains the world’s largest lignite (brown coal) producer, with lignite and hard coal supplying nearly 40 per cent of its electricity. These reasons have hampered renewables to have a larger share in the ‘energy pie’. Germany will miss its own 2020 climate target by about 7%, but is determined to cover it up and augment its renewables energy generation.

Positive outcomes of the energy shift

German shift to renewable energy sources originated from bottom-up efforts by individuals and private-owned businesses supporting renewable energy sources. RES share in total power generation rose from 3 percent in 1990 to 40 percent in 2018. This has generated about 350,000 new jobs and has spread fairly evenly across the world.

Impact of Fukushima nuclear disaster

The nuclear catastrophe of 2011 at Fukushima in Japan resulted in massive anti-atomic power demonstrations across Germany. Chancellor Angela Merkel announced two months after the incident that all the plants would be demolished in the next decade. Germany will be the second nation to shut down all its nuclear power stations after Italy.

Final stretch of the phase-out

Germany has vowed to start decommissioning all of its 17 nuclear power facility by the end of 2022. In December 2019, Operators began shutting down the Philippsburg nuclear power plant in southern Germany. It was the only nuclear plants still operating in the southern state of Baden-Württemberg. 2050 and 2038. Germany is planning to become neutral of greenhouse gas by 2050. It has set the tentative target of reducing emissions by at least 55 per cent compared to rates in 1990. Germany wants to phase out coal power by 2038 to attain this goal.

By Udbhav Bhargava

The ‘Necklace of Diamond’ is India’s reaction to China’s ‘String of pearls.’ This is part of a multi-stakeholder strategy to combat the aspirations of China in the Indian Ocean region and the Indo-Pacific region.

What is ‘String of pearls’?

The ‘Pearl String’ strategy of China ensures that maritime bases are established in Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Djibouti to enhance its influence and military network. India claims that China is seeking to encircle the Indian Ocean with a network of dual-use port facilities. Concern-Choke points for defense, energy and stability. Sea lines run through several major maritime choke points like the Mandeb Strait, the Malacca Strait, the Hormuz Strait and the Lombok Strait. These pearls are positioned close to many of those Chinese choke points.

Diplomatic Debt traps 

Sri Lanka had depended heavily on China to develop a port in Hambantota for $1.5 billion. After the port worked at a loss and was unable to produce enough revenue to repay the loan to Beijing, the port was leased to China for 99 years in exchange for $1.1bn which eased its situation.

Encircling India. China through several measures, such as, debt traps, CPEC, Belt and road projects, et cetera has established or expedited the establishment of ports and naval bases.

India’s Counter

India has been creating a “Necklace of Diamonds” to counter the “String of Pearls” created by China. The ‘Necklace’ comprises

1. Changi Naval Base in Singapore

2. Chabahar Port in Iran

3. Assumption Islands in Seychelles

4. Sabang port in Indonesia

5. Duqm Port in Oman

Changi Naval base, Singapore 

In 2018, PM Modi signed the India-Singapore Bilateral Navy Cooperation Agreement which allows logistical support for Indian Navy vessels, including refueling at the Changi naval base in Singapore. Benefit-The Malacca Strait is known as one of the world’s most significant (and busiest) shipping lanes. This is the main lane for shipping between the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

Chabahar Port in Iran 

The port of Iran offers links to Afghanistan, and a significant trading route to Central Asia.

Assumption Island, Seychelles

India buttresses its position to fight the Chinese who established and operated nearby Gwadar Port in Pakistan from Assumption Island naval base. India and Seychelles decided in 2015 on building the naval base for that area. This base is of strategic significance for India as China wants to expand its influence on the African continent via the maritime route and the island of Assumption lies on the main coast.

Sabang Port, Indonesia 

In 2018, India got the military access to Sabang Port which is located right at the entrance of Malacca Strait, near the Nicobar Islands. A large chunk of trade and crude oil passes on to China through this region.

Duqm Port, Oman

India also got military access to the Port of Duqm in 2018. It sits on Oman’s south-eastern seaboard. The harbor facilitates crude imports from the Persian Gulf from India. In addition, Indian facilities are located right between the two major Chinese pearls — Djibouti and Gwadar. Besides that, India is building strong naval ties with Vietnam, Japan, France, Australia and the US.